Joanne Rogers, Sen. Jay Costa honored at Pittsburgh's Elly Awards

Joanne Rogers just smiled when asked her opinion of actor Tom Hanks dressed as her late husband, Fred Rogers.

“‘Wow, just wow,” said Rogers prior to being honored Thursday with the The George Romero Legacy Award at the 2019 Steeltown Elly Awards, presented by PNC at The Rivers Casino Ballroom in Pittsburgh. “He looks so much like Fred, and then I realize he is Tom Hanks. He is doing such a good job. I can’t wait to see the Tom Hanks movie. That’s what I call it, the Tom Hanks movie.”

The Elly Awards Gala honors Pittsburgh’s entertainment pioneers and rising talent. The event gathers community leaders, educators and entertainment industry professionals and is named after Ellen Weiss Kander, co-founder of The Steeltown Entertainment Project, located on Pittsburgh’s South Side.

Past awardees include film legend George Romero, former Fred Rogers Company CEO Bill Isler, and philanthropist Audrey Hillman Fisher.

The Steeltown Class of 2019, which produced the upcoming season of The Reel Teens web series which airs Monday on their YouTube channel, were recognized. They are Doria Focareta, LaTasia Greene, Mike Zappa, Gaige Grzelka, Oliver Henry, Hunter Donovan, Rob Starzynski and Marissa Aloisio.

Also honored was state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, who was recognized with The Impact Award. When there was talk that the upcoming film about Fred Rogers “You Are My Friend” would be filmed in another city, Costa secured the necessary incentives to keep the production here.

“We definitely wanted to keep the movie in Pittsburgh,” Costa said. “Pittsburgh is Fred and Joanne Rogers’ beloved city. The movie will definitely have an impact on the city, and Pittsburgh will be showcased on the big screen everywhere.”

Rogers’ legacy continues to inspire. WQED (where the show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” was filmed), PNC Grow Up Great, and Fred Rogers Productions are hosting “Be My Neighbor Day” on Saturday which invites children and families to participate in family volunteer activities that aid neighbors in need. It’s a great way to help children understand how to support others and how one kind act can lead to many.

Mrs. Rogers, 91, and the city celebrated the 50th anniversary of the show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” in 2018 and are awaiting the fall release of the movie.

In 2018, Mrs. Rogers stood in a torrential downpour with Hanks and Michael Keaton to honor the victims of the October Tree of Life tragedy.

She told the crowd: “We need more hugs, not guns.”

Last night, she entertained the 300 people in attendance sharing that events such as the Elly Awards are nice because she can share so many memories of Fred Rogers.

Steeltown board chair James Rogal said in a previous news release that Rogers has not only preserved her husband’s legacy here in Pittsburgh, and around the world, she’s dedicated to everything Steeltown stands for, making sure young people have no obstacles to learning about film and media, and she’s been a brilliant and accessible ambassador representing Pittsburgh.

“Fred and Joanne Rogers are part of our lives,” said Wendy Burtner-Owens, president and CEO of Steeltown. “I grew up watching Mister Rogers. Everyone knows him. And look at the kind of person Mrs. Rogers is. We all want to try to be like her and him.”

Details: http://steeltown.org